Alongside its entry in the top class, Romain Dumas Rallye Team will bring a Porsche 911 GT3 RS for Vincent Beltoise.

At the end of June, Romain Dumas will take part in the legendary hill climb race at Pikes Peak for the third year in a row to fight for the overall victory driving a Norma M20 "RD Limited" prototype developed specifically for the event. Alongside its entry in the top class, Romain Dumas Rallye Team will bring a Porsche 911 GT3 RS for Vincent Beltoise. Porsche Carrera Cup France driver for the last three seasons, he will be compete in the Time Attack class.

Romain Dumas: "A human and sporting adventure…" Romain Dumas and Vincent Beltoise know each other well, with both drivers from Alès, France. Although the official Porsche driver was born there, Vincent lived there for several years before studying in Lyon. In 2010, the year of his double victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Spa, Romain took Vincent under his wing, coaching him during the Sporting Stars event in France.

"I’ve known Vincent since he was much younger and we talk fairly regularly. We see each other on a regular basis and I’m thrilled that he’s joining the Pikes Peak project taken on by the team " explains Romain Dumas." Like I’ve always said, Pikes Peak is a human and sporting adventure for the entire team, and it’s clear that Vincent has the right values and qualities to take on such a challenge. I like him a lot, he’s always got a positive approach and he already knows all the mechanics and engineers on the team.

He’s a smart driver, capable of racing on all sorts of surfaces, and his abilities will be interesting to see when applied to such a unique event as this one. And he’s used to driving a Porsche. In a general way, the team is continuing its progression : being present in two different classes, with a prototype and a Porsche, both prepared by us, it’s a huge challenge ! "

While Romain Dumas will be competing in the Unlimited class with a Norma M20 " RD Limited “which is currently being developed, Vincent Beltoise will drive a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997 type). Equipped with a 3,8 litre engine, the car has been prepared under the" RD Limited“ label. At the wheel, Romain Dumas has already claimed several wins in the French Rally Cup as well as podium finishes in the French Rally Championship. Entered in the Time Attack class and carrying the No. 911, the car will be modified further in order to adapt to the specific challenges the Pikes Peak presents, benefitting from Romain Dumas’s experience in 2012 and 2013

Vincent Beltoise: " Monster Tajima and Romain’s Porsche… "Vincent Beltoise, 24, began in the Formul’Academy Euro Series, with two wins in 2009. He then moved to Formula Palmer Audi, finishing the season in sixth place, with two podium spots in 2010. A multi-faceted driver, he won the Grand Challenge in 2011 and race in the United States’ USF2000 series. Engineer-student at INSA in Lyon and development driver for Caterham Cars, he entered the Porsche Carrera Cup France in 2012, finishing third in his first season, before claiming three pole positions and four podiums in 2013. He is currently the championship leader following the first race of the season.

"To be at the start of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a true opportunity. It’s a unique event, which seems so…far to me !" admits Vincent Beltoise. "Many great drivers has taken part in it and of course I have certain pictures in my head of what it’s like. The first is the video of Ari Vatanen in the 80s, and more recently those of Monster Tajima and Romain’s Porsche in 2012. We know each other very well and I’m happy to experience this race with his team. I will learn a lot being beside him and it will be interesting to drive the Porsche that he developed for rallying then adapted to Pikes Peak. I have a little experience in hill climbing since I competed in the 2012 Col Saint-Pierre and I will be looking for a good result."

The Romain Dumas Rallye Team is actively preparing for Pikes Peak this early part of May. Vincent Beltoise discovered his new car on Wednesday at the Pôle Mécanique d’Alès.